Significado
Something awkward or embarrassing.
Contexto cultural
In Ukraine, 'крінж' is often used to mock 'sharo-varshchyna' — a term for shallow, stereotypical representations of Ukrainian culture that feel fake or outdated. The 'Cringe Culture' online has evolved from mocking others to 'post-cringe,' where people intentionally act awkward as a form of high-level irony. Modern Ukrainian tech companies (IT sector) use 'крінж' almost as much as teenagers, often referring to bad UI design or awkward corporate 'team-building' events. The word acts as a linguistic bridge. A Ukrainian teenager and an American teenager can both say 'cringe' and immediately understand each other's social judgment.
Register Alert
Never use this word with your Ukrainian grandmother unless she is very 'cool.' She likely won't understand it or will think you're speaking English poorly.
The 'Catch' Phrase
Use the verb 'зловити' (to catch) with 'крінж' to sound like a native speaker. 'Я зловив крінж' is much more natural than 'Я мав крінж'.
Significado
Something awkward or embarrassing.
Register Alert
Never use this word with your Ukrainian grandmother unless she is very 'cool.' She likely won't understand it or will think you're speaking English poorly.
The 'Catch' Phrase
Use the verb 'зловити' (to catch) with 'крінж' to sound like a native speaker. 'Я зловив крінж' is much more natural than 'Я мав крінж'.
Spanish Shame
If you want to sound more sophisticated but still express the same idea, use 'іспанський сором'.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the most appropriate response to a friend telling a very bad, outdated joke.
Друг: — Чому курка перейшла дорогу? Щоб потрапити на інший бік! Ти: — ...
Calling a bad joke 'крінж' is the most natural slang response.
Fill in the correct adjective form of 'крінж'.
Ця ситуація була дуже ______. (This situation was very cringey.)
Since 'ситуація' is feminine, the adjective must be 'крінжова'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
1. Зловити крінж. 2. Крінжувати. 3. Іспанський сором.
Matching the slang verb, noun phrase, and formal equivalent.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form.
— Ти бачив нове відео того блогера? — Так, я ледь додивився. Це було занадто ____.
The adverb 'крінжово' describes how the video was (it was cringey).
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Cringe vs. Zashkvar
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosДруг: — Чому курка перейшла дорогу? Щоб потрапити на інший бік! Ти: — ...
Calling a bad joke 'крінж' is the most natural slang response.
Ця ситуація була дуже ______. (This situation was very cringey.)
Since 'ситуація' is feminine, the adjective must be 'крінжова'.
1. Зловити крінж. 2. Крінжувати. 3. Іспанський сором.
Matching the slang verb, noun phrase, and formal equivalent.
— Ти бачив нове відео того блогера? — Так, я ледь додивився. Це було занадто ____.
The adverb 'крінжово' describes how the video was (it was cringey).
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasIt is a real slang word. It's not in the traditional dictionary yet, but it's used by millions of speakers.
Only if you work in a very casual creative agency or with close colleagues of your age.
'Зашквар' is much stronger; it implies a total loss of reputation. 'Крінж' is just awkward.
Use the adjective 'крінжовий' (masculine) or 'крінжова' (feminine).
This is an older transliteration style influenced by Russian. 'Крінж' is the modern Ukrainian way.
It's not a swear word, but it is dismissive. Calling someone's work 'крінж' is quite insulting.
Rarely. Most people over 50 will prefer 'сором' or 'безглуздя'.
Yes, 'крінжувати'. For example: 'Я крінжую від цієї пісні'.
It's a more expressive, slightly humorous way to say 'a lot of cringe'.
Yes, 'почуття ніяковості' or 'іспанський сором'.
Frases relacionadas
іспанський сором
synonymSpanish shame / second-hand embarrassment
кріпово
similarCreepy
треш
similarTrash / something very bad
зашквар
similarA disgrace / a major fail
хайп
contrastHype / popularity
